The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-16


Several times | lost the herd entirely, and
was only recalled to it by the cough of a
steer or the low singing of my companion,
and once rode square into one Of them
that gave surprised snort and shufied off
in the darkness. Then noticed bright
little spark of light appear at the tip of
each ear of my horse. This was the only
thing l could see. My horses head, neck,
and even their outlines were perfectly in
visible. | could not account for the phe-
nomenal appearance of these lights. At
first I thought it must be reflection from
the camp fire, but it had long since been
put out by the rain. Afterwards learned
that this thing sometimes occurs on the
darkest nights during rain and is caused
by electricity They were only visible for
few minutes, when they disappeared as
they came.
OFF WITH THE WIND.
Meanwhile we were puzzling ourselves
how to keep the cattle from leaving us,
when finally the wind rose again, and,
driving the clouds before it, our sight was
in measure restored to us. The cattle
turned tail to the wind and rain and started
to drift with it. After riding once around
the herd and getting them together we
stationed ourselves few feet in advance of
the lead, and as they would crowd up to US
we moved few feet further ahead. The
leaders would hold back until crowded
upon us by those behind, when we would
again advance little. In this manner we
kept them from going off, and, although
we would not compel them to face the
storm, made them stand and take it. We
were congratulating ourselves that we had
lost no cattle so far, but were still pretty
sure we had not seen the end of it, when
we heard low, rumbling peal Of thunder,
frequently repeated, and preceded by dis
tant but spiteful flashes of lightning. The
rain increased, the wind came in quick and
angry gusts, and the cattle were showing
their restlessness by crowding and hooking
each other and taking excited snifs of the
air. We realized that things were rapidly
approaching a climax and that it wanted
only one sudden flash and loud report to
make the already excited animals break
through the slender bounds that held
them and rush headlong possibly to their
own destruction. In such an emergency
our only hope was to keep them headed
away from the creek, for if they should
get start in that direction it would be i'm
possible to check them before they had
plunged over the bank and to certain
death below. With this object in view we
were keeping ourselves as much as possible
between them and the point of danger
when the anticipated event occurred.
HEADS AND TAILS IN THE AIR.
There came a most binding flash, in
stantly followed by clap of thunder that
sounded as though the heavens had fallen.
All courage and restraint instantly left
each ANIMAL and before the sound had
hardly died away every one of them was in
a mad gallop, with head and tail in the air.
Now was the time for our ponies to show
their mettle, as all depended upon their
speed and sure-footedness. Leaning for
ward in the saddle and plunging the spurs
in their fanks, we dashed along over the
sage-brush and dog-holes, which appeared
like mammoth caves as our quick little ami
mails deity cleared them. Up hill and
down we rush, riding side by side with the
frantic leaders of the herd. We are crowd
ing them all we can, using our 'quirts on
the sides of their heads in the endeavor to
turn them. With our repeated blows and
continued crowding they gradually swerve
from their course little by little. If the
pony should now make misstep or if we
should miscalculate some jump he makes
and lurch from the saddle we would never
know how it happened or ride on another
stampede, But he seems to know as well
Just where to put bis feet as if he had been
over the ground and practiced it all before
hand. We are gradually turning them in
a circle and lessening its circumference
until finally we have them packed closely
together, still running and looking like an
immense mill-whcel. Those in the GEN.
tire are merely turning around in their
tracks, while those on the outside are still
running.
CHARMED WITH SONG. m
Now We commence to sing to them in
low, grooming tone, which gradually has
the wonderful effect of quicting them down,
until finally they have stopped running en-
tirely. As we ride around and pass them
they will occasionally elevate their noses
and sniff at us and appear to be reassured,
After about another half hour we have
them again ''bedded down" just where we
stopped them, and some two or three miles
from camp. They are resting almost as
quietly as if nothing had disturbed them,
and as our time is up the amonnor" rides
into camp to call the secoud ''relief." Pres
emily / hear the clatter of their horses
hoofs and the jingling of their spurs, and
after ''Hellop all around and few an
swered inquiries as to how we "made il" I
ride slowly into camp. Our faithful little
horses are pretty well used up, and after
pulling off their saddles and brides and
"picketing" them and throwing off some
of our own wet clothing, we 'sturn in" to
sleep soundly until the cook calls i'Roll
out r at about half-past 3 next morning.